All photo formats / Asia & Pacific
Australian citizenship application photo
Home Affairs requires citizenship application photos to be in colour, no more than 6 months old, against a neutral or light grey background that contrasts with the face, completely unedited (no background removal, no retouching). For online applications the file must be a JPEG between 70 KB and 3.5 MB; the preferred resolution is 1200 x 1600 pixels. Expression neutral, mouth closed, eyes open, glasses removed. This tool only crops and resizes your original - it never edits your face - and runs on your device, nothing is uploaded.
The official requirements
| File format | JPEG for online applications (this tool delivers JPEG) |
|---|---|
| File size | 70 KB minimum to 3.5 MB maximum |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1600 px preferred (stated as a preference, not a strict minimum) |
| Recency | No more than 6 months old |
| Background | Neutral or light grey, contrasting with the face |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open; hair off the face |
| Glasses | Removed (medical exceptions: untinted, frames clear of the eyes, no reflections) |
| Editing | Strictly none - no background removal or retouching; scans of photos are not accepted |
Checked against the official sources below on 7 Nov 2026.
Home Affairs recommends a professional passport-photo provider and warns against online photo services that alter the image. This tool never alters your appearance - it only crops and resizes the original pixels - but the department's recommendation stands; the case officer makes the final decision.
The 70 KB minimum is real: very small, over-compressed files are rejected. This tool exports at genuine quality and never pads a file to fake the minimum. Requirements checked against the Home Affairs citizenship photo page (checked November 2026).
Babies under 3 may have an open mouth; no other person or object may be visible.
How to do it
- Have someone photograph you against a neutral or light grey wall, evenly lit, no shadows.
- Remove glasses; keep a neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, hair off your face.
- Upload below, frame the face between the guide lines, and create the 1200 x 1600 JPEG.
- Confirm the size lands between 70 KB and 3.5 MB, download, and attach it in your online citizenship application.
Common questions
Why is there a 70 KB minimum?
Home Affairs sets a 70 KB floor so the image holds enough detail for identity checks. This tool never pads files; if an export falls under the floor, use a higher-resolution original.
Is 1200 x 1600 px mandatory?
It is stated as the preferred resolution. This tool exports exactly that size.
Can I edit the photo first?
No - Home Affairs rejects edited photos, including background removal and retouching. This tool only crops and resizes.
Can I wear glasses?
Remove them. The only exception is medical, and then the lenses must be untinted with no reflections and the frames clear of your eyes.